A judicial panel has dismissed a complaint against State Auditor Rebecca Otto filed by her DFL primary opponent Matt Entenza’s campaign.

The complaint was about a statement Otto made on her Facebook page about a vote in 2003 for a voter ID law when she was a state legislator. Otto said she didn’t vote for it. But the campaign manager for Matt Entenza said she did and filed the complaint saying she violated state law by misrepresenting her record.

The Office of Administrative Hearings dismissed the case, saying there was no evidence to support the claim that Otto made her statement knowing it was false.

“There are no disputed facts in the case,” the panel wrote, “only different interpretations of the meaning of the phrase ‘voter ID.'”

Entenza has been trying to make Otto’s votes for voter ID and for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage an issue in the DFL primary contest for State Auditor. Otto says she campaigned heavily against both during the 2012 campaign after the GOP-controlled Legislature put them on the ballot.

Otto praised the ruling.

“I have never voted for voter ID,” said Otto. “In fact, I campaigned against it. So I am pleased that the panel of judges agreed so resoundingly that they rejected all of Mr. Entenza’s claims. I will continue to focus on my job of watching out for the best interest of the taxpayers of Minnesota.”

UPDATED 6:00 p.m.

Entenza’s campaign manager Dave Colling issued this statement:

“While the case was dismissed because of her confusion over the term ‘Voter ID’, it doesn’t change the fact that Rebecca Otto supported Voter ID. Matt along with the vast majority of his DFL colleagues- voted to eliminate Voter ID requirements. His stance on this issue has been consistent and unwavering.”

About the blogger

Tom Scheck has covered politics and state government for more than ten years for MPR News. He’s covered several gubernatorial campaigns, two statewide recounts, the presidential bids of Tim Pawlenty and Michele Bachmann, U.S. Senate races, close Congressional contests and the Minnesota Legislature. He lives in Falcon Heights with his wife, son and dog. He can sometimes be found chasing a white ball on a golf course. It isn’t a straight walk. Tips are welcome at tscheck@mpr.org